First Wi-Fi phones get industry approval

The Wi-Fi Alliance has given its backing to the first batch of mobile devices that offer support for both cellular and 802.11x networks.

Five products have been awarded certification by the Alliance, which means they have been tested and found to work with other Wi-Fi certified kit.

They are the HP iPAQ Pocket PC h6315, the Nokia 9500 Communicator, the Motorola MPx, the Intermec 760 Mobile Computer and the SanDisk Connect Wi-Fi SD Card. Click ""="" class="c-regularLink" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">here to read a review of the HP iPAQ h6340 (the UK version of the h6315), and ""="" class="c-regularLink" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">here to read a review of the Motorola MPx.

The Wi-Fi Alliance, a group of more than 200 manufacturers, has also created a new task group that will aim to help mobile phone manufacturers and operators integrate Wi-Fi into their products and services.

"The Alliance has been working with the world's leading convergence device manufacturers to form a new task group that will facilitate this market's growth," said Wi-Fi Alliance managing director Frank Hanzlik, in a statement.

"We see this initiative as a valuable opportunity for product manufacturers and service providers to work together to define the requirements of this market," Hanzlik added.